Work begins on animal rescue group’s first LI facility

The first phase of a project to transform a Woodbury office building into a boarding facility for a national animal rescue nonprofit has begun. 

The Kulka Group has started interior demolition at the 14,092-square-foot building at 3 Crossways Park Drive West to prepare for construction of Best Friends Animal Society’s first Long Island location. 

The Utah-based nonprofit purchased the building on 1 acre for $3.4 million in Oct. 2024. The building was formerly occupied by legal and accounting firms. 

A building permit application has been submitted to the Town of Oyster Bay, and construction is expected to begin on the $8 million project in the coming months following permit approval. 

Hauppauge-based Kulka Group is serving as construction manager for the project that will redevelop the building into a modern pet boarding facility that will support Best Friends Animal Society’s mission of providing care for animals. The project team also includes West Hollywood, Calif.-based RA-DA Architects, Norwich, Conn. engineering firm Design Learned and attorney Garret Gray from Melville-based Weber Law Group. 

“The Kulka Group has partnered closely with the project team throughout preconstruction to evaluate constructability, develop budgets, coordinate the design, and prepare the project for construction,” Devin Kulka, CEO of The Kulka Group, told LIBN. “This collaborative effort has positioned the project to move efficiently into the construction phase once permits are issued. The new Woodbury facility represents another important investment in infrastructure that supports Best Friends Animal Society’s mission and its ongoing commitment to animal welfare.” 

Founded in 1984 as a no-kill shelter and sanctuary for pets in southern Utah, Best Friends Animal Society now has locations in Manhattan, Houston, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Bentonville, Ark. The nonprofit also has a network of more than 5,000 shelters and rescue groups throughout the U.S., including public and private animal shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all focused on saving the lives of dogs and cats. 

Following the devastation caused by storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, Best Friends deployed staff to the affected areas to help shelter workers on the ground with animal care, transport, supply distribution and clean-up operations. The organization has also sent grants to several severely impacted shelters, according to a statement from the nonprofit. 

The nonprofit’s new Woodbury facility will take about 10 months to complete.